831 victims of human trafficking and irregular migration were rescued in 2021 by law enforcement officers.
During that period, 32 cases of human trafficking and irregular migration were prosecuted, resulting in the conviction of 13 for human trafficking, 9 cases of child labour and 10 cases of other related offences.
Dr Afisah Zakariah, Director General of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, stated that all 87 cases had been reported and investigated by law enforcement, and called on stakeholders to work together to eliminate the threat.
She spoke at the opening ceremony of a four-day advance training and capacity building for law enforcement personnel in Accra at Alisa Hotel to equip them in the fight against human trafficking and irregular migration.
The workshop was organized by the Ministry in collaboration with Expertise French, the French public agency for the design and implementation of international technical cooperation projects and the European Union(EU).
Participants included the Ghana Tax Administration (GRA), the Ghana Police Service (GPS), the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and The Ministry.
The workshop was followed by a series of training across the country to enhance the capacity of law enforcement personnel to detect, investigate, prosecute and work together on issues of trafficking and irregular migration.
Dr Zachariah explains that trafficking and irregular migration acts are serious crimes which have taken the form of organ harvesting, sexual exploitation, forced labour, and psychological abuse of victims.
She stated that the results of the 2021 rescue and law enforcement agencies have significantly improved efforts to combat human trafficking and irregular migration following the operationalisation of the two government shelters.
She further stated that she received more than 153 rescued victims, who have been integrated into the rehabilitation and community care for adult victims shelter, which was opened in February 2019.
She noted that the children’s shelter which was operationalized in August 2020 has more than 70 children who have been rehabilitated.
She said the Ministry has employed the services of four psychologists to manage shelters and provide the best possible support for the rescued victims.
Despite government efforts, Dr Zachariah said a significant portion of human trafficking was still ongoing and called for joint efforts to combat them.
Comptroller General of Ghana Immigration Service, Kwame AsuahTakyi said in a briefing on his behalf that the service had set up migration information centres in several regions to educate the public about the dangers of irregular migration and provide information about safe travel.
Through its protection strategy, it identifies, intercepts and rescues victims of human trafficking and supports them.
EOCO Executive Director, Commissioner of Police (COP) MaameYaaTiwaa Addo-Danquah said her outfit conducts regular operations at Kotoka International Airport where irregular migrants leaving for the Gulf state are prevented from travelling.
Project Manager at Expertise France, Serge Akpalou said the capacity-building seminar will provide law enforcement officers with a better understanding and knowledge on human trafficking and victim identification, which will help increase the number of prosecutions.